The ASUS RT-AC88U is a pretty awesome router. However, out of the box, it’s a bit finicky if you try to print to it via WiFi or Apple’s AirPrint. It doesn’t seem to want to maintain the connection. I stumbled across this somewhat cryptic post and the suggested changes have solved my issues–at least so far. Here are the steps with a little more detail:
1. First log into the router’s settings.
2. Choose Wireless > Professional tab
3. Make the following changes:
-Modulation Scheme: Up to MCS 9 (802.11ac)
-Airtime Fairness: Disable (NOTE: According to one reader, this is the only change that matters, so try this first. Thanks Dan CC!)
-Multi-User MIMO: Disable (Note that this was already disabled by default for me)
-Explicit Beamforming: Disable
-Universal Beamforming (5 GHz only): Disable
Click Apply button.
4. Each of the Bands (i.e., 2.4GHz and 5GHz) have their own independent set of settings on this page. So, change the Band and repeat Step 3.
5. Finally, change the Control Channel to a specific channel (i.e., something other than Auto). Again, apply the change for one band, change the Band setting, and apply the change for the other band. (NOTE: as hellojohnbuck points out in the comments, printers generally only use 2.4GHz, so you probably only need to change for that band.)
I’m not sure what real-world impact changing these settings has on the router’s performance; however, I haven’t really noticed any significant difference…other than my printer works wireless now ;-)
NOTES:
Matt S commented below that he disabled a new setting, “Target Wake Time” (Wifi > General), that was causing his printer connection to timeout.
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I have a RT-AC88U and a Canon MB5340 which I have been struggling with for many months to print via wifi.
I had to make all of the changes, not just the Airtime Fairness and it now WORKS!
Awesome, thanks so much for the tip, I had mostly given up on ever finding the problem.
You’re welcome John.
Forum was a lifesaver. For me was a quick fix. Disabled “Airtime Fairness” for 2.4 and 5ghz and all is good.
Glad the info helped.
Tried to install new Brother HL-3210CW Printer using wifi on my Asus RT-AC88U. Did not work. Thank you so much for your solution. This worked for me.
Thanks for this, disabling airtime fairness on 2.4 fixed the issue for me
You’re welcome Steve.
Along these same lines guys… I’m using a slow connection and need to disable airtime fairness. Under professional on my ac66u, I don’t seem to have the airtime fairness item that other folks have. Does anyone know why I don’t have this option?
I’m on 3.0.0.4.382_50470
Thanks in advance!
Disabling Airtime Fairness worked for me to get my HP printer working with my Asus RT-AC3100. Thank you!
You’re welcome Paul.
Same problem with ASUS extender network! But the extender has no such settings under the professional tab! Other ideas ?
Amaizing! Thanks!
Just connected Canon MX492 to Asus RT-AC86U
Airtime Fairness: Disable
You’re welcome!
Guys this seems to fix Homekit issues as well!!!!
Very thankful for this guidance. Fixed the MFC-9300 after flashing Merlin!
You’re welcome Cogniz
Great advice. Fixed the airprint and scan to pc problems I had with a new RT-AC86U for a few weeks
I just got the AC3100 (RT-AC88U) and a Canon MG3600 and I’ve been pulling my hair out. I thought it was the WPS process that was messed up until I saw that the printer had been given an IP via WPS and would even print the network settings correctly as connected to the WIFI! Once I disabled “Airtime Fairness” the setup FINALLY succeeded fully. Thank you so much.
You’re welcome Ron. Happy the info helped.
Thanks for this posts! Saved me a lot of time. Only changed the Airtime Fairness setting to Disable.
You’re welcome Cdub
Like Matt, changing only the Airtime Fairness setting to disabled resolved my longstanding Air Print problem that was about to have me buying a new printer. THANK YOU ALL!
You’re welcome Don.
Simply disabling the “Airtime Fairness” setting did the trick for me. Thank you VERY much for this post.
You’re welcome Dan.
This whole year i purchased three printers and went through so much frustrations. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
You’re welcome John. If it makes you feel any better, I bought two ;-)
This is life changing! This has been driving me nuts for two years, to the point that I got a new printer. When the new printer had the same issue, i decided to google to see if it was my router. Now I have two working printers. Thanks!
You’re welcome Jeff. I did the same thing lol.
Thanks. This fixed my airprint that I’ve struggled with for almost a year.
You’re welcome Mike.
Thank you so much, I would never get my Asus3100 router to AirPrint on my Canon MX922 without the instruction provided.
You’re welcome Ron
Thanks, your post pointed me to right direction. For me the critical settings with ASUS DSL-N16 were
Enable IGMP Snooping = DISABLE
Enable Packet Aggregation = DISABLE
Interesting Jari. Thanks!
This fixed our AirPrint problem with our ASUS RT-AC88U that we have been struggling with for months! Thank you! Just the Airtime Fairness setting took care of it.
You’re welcome Matt.